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Botox for Men? Yes!

Let’s hear it for the boys!

While non-surgical cosmetic procedures continue rising rapidly across both genders and all age groups (18 and beyond), you might be surprised to learn just how significantly they’re rising among the male population. What millions of women have known for at least a decade—that Botox, dermal fillers, laser hair removal, IPL photo rejuvenation and body contouring are relatively painless and exceptionally efficient ways to look their best—millions of men are now turning to non- and minimally-invasive procedures to look younger, sexier and more competitive in the workplace. Botox for men—more popularly known as “Brotox—is a real thing, and it’s definitely here to stay.

Interestingly, overall surgical cosmetic procedures for both genders has decreased slightly the past few years (though breast augmentation and liposuction remain popular), and a few factors likely play a part, including patients’ declining willingness to take on the risks and cost associated with plastic surgery. On the other hand, non-surgical procedures such as Botox for men and women, dermal fillers and cosmetic laser procedures have increased due to improved technology, little or no required downtime, decreasing costs and wider availability.

In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), more than $2.5 billion was spent on injectables alone in 2014, and nearly $1.9 billion was spent on skin rejuvenation, a fast-growing sector of the aesthetic non-surgical industry. Let’s take a closer look at why Botox for men along with dermal fillers and other non-surgical cosmetic procedures are sharply on the rise.

Do Selfies and Social Media Sell More Botox and Dermal Fillers?

Is everyone just getting vainer? Maybe. However, we’re now subjected to our own digital images on a nearly round-the-clock basis, with smart phone cameras, selfies and social media at everyone’s fingertips. It can be difficult not feeling self-conscious about perceived imperfections. But it’s more than that. Thanks to celebrities’ willingness to Tweet and Instagram what they’ve had done, there seems to be a growing openness to both genders making a few tweaks here and there. Hey, we’re living and working longer—why not try to look as good as we feel, and stay competitive in the workplace while we’re at it? A later retirement may be inevitable, but early wrinkles don’t have to be.

Other Ways Botox for Men and Dermal Fillers Can Help

Yes, cosmetic injectables can smooth wrinkles and add volume, but they can do so much more to boost confidence. In addition to Botox being used for wrinkle smoothing, it can also be used to reduce excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and a gummy smile. And dermal fillers such as Juvederm can be used for a non-surgical nose job by camouflaging nose bumps, thereby creating a more pleasing profile. Because Juvederm can be shaped into desired facial contours after injection to create volume and customized lift, it can be used, for example, to widen a pinched nasal bridge for a more balanced appearance between the width of the bridge and tip. Juvederm can also be injected over the nasal spine to support the tip, increasing the projection of the nose and its rotation. The Juvederm non-surgical nose job can be done with minimal to no downtime, with results lasting up to two years.

What About Embarrassing Excess Hair on Men?

While laser hair reduction has been popular with women for quite some time, men are now turning to it in higher numbers as well. For a man with a great deal of back, chest or arm and leg hair who has avoided taking off his shirt in public for that same reason, laser hair reduction can be very effective in thinning out the hair so that some hair remains, but much less noticeably so. This can be a tremendous confidence booster and for some, even a lifestyle changer.

And What About Those Stubborn Love Handles?

There are now a number of non-surgical body contouring devices on the market, using a variety of techniques including freezing or melting fat as well as radiofrequency-assisted technology and ultrasound-assisted technology. All of these modalities are excellent alternatives to risky and invasive surgical procedures such as traditional liposuction.

The Latest Injectable for the Double Chin

Recently approved by the FDA to treat moderate to several submental (under chin) fat, KYBELLA is a non-human/non-animal formulation of deoxycholic acid, a naturally-occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into subcutaneous fat, KYBELLA causes the destruction of fat cells. Once destroyed, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat. In just a few recommended treatments, a double chin that has plagued someone for years can be a thing of the past. And even better, KYBELLA also firms and tightens the treatment area, which is something that even traditional liposuction cannot achieve by itself.

Summary

Without a doubt, the number of non-surgical cosmetic procedures including Botox, dermal fillers and other injectables, along with laser, intense pulsed light (IPL), radio frequency and cooling/freezing technology will continue to rise. According to Michael Edwards, MD, President-Elect of ASAPS, “A significant increase in the number of both cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures suggests that people are once again investing in their appearance and perhaps have more disposable income to do so. Given the state of the economy and the competitiveness of the job market, we expect to see the numbers for anti-aging procedures continue to increase.” And the number of non-surgical cosmetic procedures including Botox for men will also increase. Now, if we could just come up with a good term for men who get dermal fillers and body contouring treatments. It’s hard to top Brotox.